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COLLEGE PARK — In a recent announcement from the University of Maryland’s flagship campus, Flock Safety cameras will be installed in all public bathrooms on school grounds in an effort to reduce incidents of voyeurism and indecent exposure. Dialogue between Flock representatives, the Division of Administration, and the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) is underway, with widespread installations forecasted to take place over the summer. By the start of the Fall 2026 semester, every toilet, urinal, and sink on campus will be diligently monitored to improve the safety and livelihood of all Terps.

Crimes such as voyeurism and indecent exposure can be challenging to effectively combat since they exploit privacy gaps, brief opportunities, and systemic underreporting. Incidents often happen in natural blind spots and can last mere seconds. Offenders can easily premeditate and plan around detection, and unfortunately, victims may not immediately realize what happened. As with all sexual misconduct, underreporting is common, and even when authorities are notified, identifying offenders can be difficult, especially in large, open university environments. An institution dedicated to protecting its students could invest in privacy-focused architecture in bathrooms and changing areas, routine scanning for hidden devices, specialized patrol teams and investigative resources, and anonymous, low-barrier reporting. However, all of that requires serious time, effort, and care for the student body, so naturally, UMD opted for a different approach.

Flock Safety is a U.S. technology company that builds public-safety surveillance tools mainly used by police departments in neighborhoods to solve and deter crime. Their core product is their Automated License Plate Reader cameras, which are mounted around neighborhoods in connected networks, running AI-powered software to recognize license plates and cars and storing all collected information in a centralized, searchable database for law enforcement. Flock recently announced a partnership with Ring Doorbell during the Super Bowl, featuring a sentimental advertisement about a child finding their lost dog. Many viewers had their own interpretations, though, calling it “eerily dystopian” and “what the f— was that.” The public backlash led to the partnership falling through, creating an opportunity for UMD to strike a cost-effective deal with a company in free fall.

Even before the Super Bowl fiasco, concerns surrounded Flock Safety regarding infringement of privacy and civil liberties, especially because a person’s movements could be reconstructed over time. There were reports of unauthorized cross-agency data sharing, with federal groups overstepping local restrictions, which led to some municipalities beginning to reconsider their contracts. A federal judge even ruled expansion of the software could result in a violation of the 4th Amendment. However, where others saw trouble, UMD saw a fearless opportunity; Crimes cannot happen in privacy gaps if there is no privacy.

Other issues surrounding the Flock brand were more technical. Independent security researchers reported numerous security vulnerabilities within Flock software, firmware, and devices. Security flaws include hardcoded passwords, improper access controls, and easily decompiled secrets. The Department of Computer Science is especially excited about this. Curriculum is being developed so CS students may gain experiential learning by resolving these bugs. Department advisers are hopeful this will strengthen their students’ resumes and raise alumni employment rates help them build fruitful careers.

Many students feel concerned about this move, raising questions about legality and freedom. The university, however, stood firm, explaining that students actually give up their constitutional rights in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) waiver that must be signed every year. “I think this is a great step to protect our students,” said an anonymous staff member in an interview. “Just imagine never having to worry about someone watching you in a bathroom again.” Reportedly, even the gender-neutral bathrooms will have cameras, in support of UMD being ranked the #1 college for LGBTQ+ students. When asked if cameras would also be installed in staff bathrooms, the interviewee scoffed: “Of course not, that would feel like such a violation.”

Beta testing has already started in select dorms, however early results have only yielded some light fraternity hazing and a surprising amount of squirrels that manage to climb through bathroom windows. Rumors have also been circulating of UMD engaging in early banter with Ring, the other side of the coin from the recent fallout. Stipulations of a potential deal could mean a Ring Doorbell next to every dorm-room door, allowing students to safely see that those knocks are indeed coming from their neighbor across the hall. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Testudo